Ian Laperriere News and Photos
2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Fenway Park - Boston, MA
Dropping the Gloves to Clean Up the Pond
(from NHL.com - 11/23/09)
Ian Laperriere is no stranger to dropping the gloves. He even did it when he was a pre-teen. Back then, though, it was for slightly different reasons.
It was during his childhood, playing on the outdoor rink near his home in Montreal, that Laperriere honed the skills that have served him well for 17 NHL seasons...
Practice and Fan Festival at Spectator Plaza
December 31, 2009
Snow falling outside of Fenway Park (One of our photos)
The Flyers posed for a team photo on the ice at Fenway before practice. (Getty Images)
Flyers Arron Asham slams his teammate #14, Ian Laperriere into the glass during practice. (Michael Bryant/Philly.com Staff Photographer)
Philadelphia Flyers center Ian Laperriere is seen through a photo hole in the glass during an NHL hockey team practice at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, December 31, 2009. The Flyers are preparing to meet the Boston Bruins for New Years Day's Winter Classic NHL hockey game.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The ice making truck behind Fenway. (One of our photos)
Laperriere, Flyers Have Been a Perfect Fit
(from NHL.com - 12/31/09)
When teams sign free agents or make trades, hockey skills are an important consideration, but not the only one. NHL general managers also have to consider what kind of impact that player's personality will have on the team.
Sometimes, you want a player who brings a no-nonsense approach. Other times, you may want someone who is good at lifting the mood. If you want both, it usually takes two players. Sometimes, you need to add offense. Other times, defense. That also often requires two different players.
But the Flyers got all of the above last summer when they signed Ian Laperriere, 35, a 15-year veteran who previously played with St. Louis, the Rangers, Los Angeles and Colorado...
Flyers Have Warm Memories of Playing Outdoors
(from the Philadelphia Daily News - 12/31/09)
It wasn't even a mile away from his house, but Ian Laperriere was forbidden to go there alone.
Laperriere, just 8 years old at the time, was fearless. Every day after school, he begged to head to the local park - where the city of Montreal kept one of its 168 outdoor rinks - to skate with teenagers more than double his size and age.
"I couldn't let him go alone," said Francine Laperriere, Ian's mother, on the phone from Montreal. "He was too young. But he loved to play. I would ring his cousins on the phone for them to take him..."
Flyers 1 - Bruins 2 (OT)
January 1, 2010
Ian Laperriere contributed 4 hits, 1 blocked shot and 1 takeaway in the Flyers' overtime loss.
(One of our photos)
(One of our photos)
Warm-ups (One of our photos)
The Philadelphia Flyers stand at attention during the singing of the Canadian national anthem before facing off against the Boston Bruins during the 2010 Bridgestone Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Ian Laperriere #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers against Andrew Ference #21 of the Boston Bruins during the 2010 Bridgestone Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in overtime.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Andrew Ference #21 of the Boston Bruins fights for the puck against Blair Betts #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated on the Bruins 2-1 overtime win by Ian Laperriere #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Flyers line up during post game after their 2-1 overtime loss against the Boston Bruins during the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
"I've never played in front of that many people in my life, and it was great to see it... It's a great experience that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. I'm just glad my family was here, too, to have fun with me." --Flyers forward Ian Laperriere
View more of our photos from Boston here
A little clip that we filmed of the crowd chanting during the game
Post-game comments courtesy of Denver Post's Adrian Dater
The Flyers on their Winter Classic experience (from CSNPhilly.com)
Laperriere and Carcillo are disappointed with the loss (from CSNPhilly.com)
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